roberts



W. T. B. ROBERTS.,

MACHINE FOR UTILIZING FASTENINGS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 21. 1916.

1 ,3 1 2, 578, Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

E If: 7 3

W. T. B. ROBERTS.

MACHINE FOR UTILIZING FASTENINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2I. I916.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- IQE.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGI-IAM ROBERTS, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

v MACHINE FOR UTILIZING FASTENINGS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, T/VILLIAM T. B. BOB- ERTS, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Ma.- chines for Utilizing Fastenings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines which utilize previously formed fastenings and is herein shown in its application to machines for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes. The invention is herein more particularly illustrated with reference to a multiple fastening inserting mechanism of a pullingover machine of the type shown, for eXample, in United States Letters Patent No. 663,777 dated Dec. 11, 1900, although many features of the invention are applicable to shoe machines of other types than that of said Letters Patent, as well as to machines for operating upon work other than shoes, and may also be embodied in a-fastening inserting machine adapted to deliver a single fastening to the driving mechanism during each cycle of operations of the machine.

In machines adapted to insert previously formed fastenings into stock the fastenings are commonly contained in bulk in a hopper from which they are conducted by one or more raceways, the fastenings being successively delivered from the raceway or raceways by a separator which. has a single fastening separating? movement for each cycle of operations of the machine. It often happens that the delivery of successive fastenings is irregular and this is frequently due to the fact that irregularities in the form of the fastenings cause the separating finger, which is usually connected yieldingly to its actuator, to be arrested during its fastening separating movement, thus suspending the delivery of any fastening to the fastening driving mechanism for that cycle of operations of the machine. In a multiple fastening delivering mechanism the possibilties of this occurrence are obviously multiplied, and the difiiculty becomes of considerable importance in machines which drive from 5 to 11 fastenings at each cycle of operations as in a pulling-over na- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 11919.

Application filed March 21, 1916. Serial No. 85,605.

chine. When the separator for any reason fails to deliver a fastening from any one of the raceways into position to be inserted in the operation of the pulling-over machine, the fact usually becomes known to the operator of the machine only after the work has been discharged from the machine and he perceives that the upper materials which have been pulled over upon the last have not been secured by a fastening in pulled-over pos1t1on.

A general object of the present invention is to provide improvements-in machines for utilizing previously formed fastenings whereby difliculties, such as those above described, arising from failure of a fastening delivering means to operate properly, shall be entirely avoided or reduced to a minimum.

The invention aims further to provide a multiple fastening delivering mechanism which is particularly adapted to obviate the difliculties heretofore experienced in the use of such mechanism.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention the foregoing objects are attained by the provision of means adapted to become operative, in the event of the failure of the fastening delivering means to operate properly, to perform one or more functions, namely, to discharge or aid in discharging the fastening or fastenings, to give an audible or other warning upon the failure of a fastening to be properly delivered, or to prevent further operation of the machine and hence stop the operation of the fastening inserting mechanism. The invention in its broadest aspect contemplates the employment of means for performing any one of the functions above referred to and hence it is of course within the contemplation of the invention to provide means for performing, if desired, all of said functions.

In the illustrated embodiment of the in vention the means employed for performing one or more of the specified functions is associated with the fastening separating device and preferably such device is in the form of a reciprocating separator which may be similar to that shown and described in prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,002,422. The separating device or slide is employed, in case it fails to separate a fastening from the other fastenings in the raceway or fails to allow a fastening to pass to the inserting mechanism, to cause one or more of the above stated functions to be performed. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, means is provided for effecting a continuous operation of the separator slide independently of its usual actuator which operation continues until a delivery of a fastening has been obtained and the slide has resumed its normal operation, and audible warning mechanism is also rendered operative and is maintained in opera-tion until the normal operation of the fastening separating slide is assured.

In the construction shown there is combined with the separator slide and its actuator, which is yieldingly connected with the slide to allowrelative movement in case the movement of the separator is arrested,

an auxiliary actuator for the slide. In the illustrated embodiment of this feature of the invention this auxiliary actuator is automatically coupled to the separator slide when relativemovement occurs between the slide and its main actuator. Conveniently the auxiliary actuator is reciprocated rapidly so that when it is acting as the actuator for the separator slide it will effect a rapid succession of forward movements of the slide in order to effect its object with as little loss of time as possible.

As illustrated, the auxiliary actuator member is preferably employed to cause the operation of the device Or mechanism which gives the audible or other warning. In the construction shown the relative movement between the separator slide and its main ac tuator is additionally caused to render the machine inoperative so that the operation of the fastening driving mechanism will be suspended whenever the delivery of fastenings to it has'been interrupted. According to one embodiment of this feature of the invention this rendering of the machine inoperative is accomplished by .interrupting the connections between the main driving shaft and its controlling mechanism. The auxiliary actuating member may be and preferably is composed of two parts one of which is reciprocated continuously independently of the normal cycle of operations of the machine and the other part is so arranged as to be held stationary temporarily if any one of the return movements of the separator slide is arrested.

The invention will be better understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the above and' other important features of the invention comprised in a multiple fastening delivering mechanism fora pulling-over machine of the type shown and described in the prior United States Letters Patent No. 663,777, above referred to, in which machine seven tacks are delivered to the driving mechanism during each cycle of operations of the machine. Inasmuch as the illustrated ma chine is particularly adapted to handle small headed fastenings, for the purpose of description the term tack will be used instead of fastening in describing the various parts of the mechanism and the machine.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows, in side elevation, a portion of a pulling-over machine in which the invention is embodied, a part of the mechanism being shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly insection, of the fastening delivering mechanism looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. .l is a front elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, illustrating parts of the audible signal device; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view, partly in section, of certain parts shown in Fig. 3.

The illustrated machine has a supporting frame comprisinga base 2 which supports the head at of the machine upon which is mounted for rotation the usual tack hopper 5 in which the tacks are contained in bulk. The hopper 5 may be oscillated by a slide bar 6 which isprovided with a rack for engaging a pinion carried by a shaft 7 which is fast to the hopper, as shown in United States Letters Patent No. 663,777, hereinbefore referred to. The tacks are lifted by paddles carried in the hopper and are deposited in raceways 8 which conduct the tacks to the separatorwhere they are separated one by one from each raceway for delivery through tack tubes into cooperating tack blocks from which they are inserted into the shoe. rator slide 10 is guided for suitable reciprocating movements in guideways-on the machine frame and is operated by a main actuating member 12 which is provided with a recess containing a spiral spring 14: which is connected at its opposite ends to projections 13 extending from the ends of the separatorslide 10. The main actuating member 12 is reciprocated through connections to the shaft 7 comprisinga shaft 16 having'atits upper end a beveled gear meshing with a cooperating gear on the forward end of the shaft 7 and having at its lower end pinion teeth which mesh with the teeth of a rack provided on the under side of the main actuating member 12. The reciprocating movements are imparted to the separator slide 10 by its actuator 12 through the spring 1 1 and if the movement of the separator is arrested for any reason while the rack continues to receive movement the spring will yield'so that damage to the machine parts will be avoided. r

As herein shown, a sepacontain spiral springs 30 and 32.

The separator slide 10 carries the fastening separating plate 15 located at the ends of the raceways 8 which convey the tacks from the hopper 5, the plate 15 being provided with the usual tack receiving throats 18 and tack separating points or fingers 20. The plate is arranged for reciprocation across the ends of the raceways 8 and acts to separate an individual tack from each of the raceways and to discharge or deliver the separate tacks into tack conducting tubes 22 by which they are guided into position to be inserted into the shoe. A complete reciprocation is normally imparted to the separator plate 15 at each cycle of operations of the machine as contemplated by saidprior patents.

In the construction herein illustrated as embodying the present invention the separator slide 10 carries a depending bracket 24, Fig. 3, which extends partly under the rack bar or main actuating member 12, and sup ports two plungers 26, 28. Said plungers have recesses therein which, respectively, These spiral springs each have a bearing at one end upon the bottom wall of their respective recesses, and at the opposite end against a rigid portion of the bracket 24, and act to. press the plungers 26 and 28 in opposite di rections. The upper end of the plunger 26, which is pressed toward the rack bar 12, has a beveled surface 34 arranged to engage a like beveled or cam surface 36, formed 011 the under side of the rack bar 12, and conveniently formed as a step facing in the direction in which the slide 10 is moved in the operation of separating the tacks, as shown in Fig. 4. The lower end of the plunger 26 is T-shaped and a lateral projection 38 on one side of said plunger extends into a position to be pressed into engagement with a stop shoulder or abutment 40 formed in the bracket 24, while another projection 42 on the other side of the plunger is arranged to engage a corresponding shoulder 44 formed on the other plunger 28, which latter is pressed by its spring 32 in a direction to maintain the shoulder 44 and the projection 42 in engagement. The lower end of the plunger 28 is adapted to engage an angular notch 46, Fig. 5, in a bar 48 which is mounted for sliding movement in suitable ways, and moves in substantial parallelism with the direction of movement of the separator slide 10. This bar 48 serves as an auxiliary actuating member for the separator slide, and it is reciprocated constantly during the operation of the machine by mechanism independent of the mechanism that imparts the reciprocating movements to the separator slide. As herein shown, the bar 48 has at one end a fork 50 between the arms of vided with an aperture which forms a bearing for a crank pin 54 carried at the end portion of a shaft 56, supported in bearings carried by the head 4 of the machine. The shaft 56 is provided with a pulley wheel 58 which may receive power through a belt, from any suitable source, but said power is applied independently of the application of power for the actuation of the other machine parts. The lower end of the plunger 28 is preferably beveled so as to correspond with the shape of the notch 46, the direction of inclination of the bevel being substantially in the line of movement of the notched bar 48, and such bevel terminating in a sharp edge at that side of the plunger which faces in the direction in which the separator slide is moved to separate the tacks.

During each complete cycle of operations of the machine, the main actuating member 12 is given a single reciprocation through its connections with the shaft 7 and if thetacks are properly separated by the sepa rator plate 15, at each reciprocation of the latter, the slide 10 will move with its actuating member 12; if, however, one of the separating points 20 should encounter a tack which would arrest the operative movement of the slide the main actuating member 12 would move relatively to the slide, the spring 14 yielding to permit such relative movement. Movement of the rack member 12 relatively to the slide 10 will cause engagement between the beveled surface 36 on the rack member 12 and the coiiperating bevel 34 at the end of the spring-pressed plunger 26, thereby causing a depression of the plunger 26, which will move the projection 42 out of engagement with the shoulder 44 on the plunger 28, and thus permit the latter to be depressed by its spring 32, until its lower end enters the notch 46 in the auxiliary actuating member, or bar 48. Owing to the shape of the notch 46, and of the lower end of the plunger 28, the separator slide 10 will be connected with the auxiliary slide bar 48 in such manner that on the next return movement of the bar, which is being continuously reciprocated by the independent operating mechanism above described, the separator slide, and the separator plate 15 connected therewith, will be positively moved back, and, because of the frictional engagement between the end of the plunger 28 and the notch 46, which is caused by the pressure of spring 32, the separator slide will be yieldingly moved forward again on the neXt forward movement of the bar 48. This backward and forward movement which is imparted to the separator from the bar 48 auxiliates the initial separating movement of the separator and acts to dislodge the obstructing tack, or to aid in the accomplishment of this result, the reciprocating movements of the separator slide continuing by reason of its connection with the continuously reciprocating auxiliarly slide 48 until the tack or tacks which have been jammed are properly separated. In the event that the reciprocations which are imparted to the separator slide through connections to the bar 48 are not sufficient to immediately dislodge the obstructing tack, the plunger 28 will be forced out of the notch 46 on one of the forward movements of the bar, 10, and said plunger will then reengage with the notch on the return movement so as to partake of at least a portion of the reciprocations of the bar, and such partial reciprocations will be imparted to the separator, successively, until the tack has become dislodged, whereupon the separator will resume its normal operation and continue to separate tacks from the raceways in its usual manner.

In lieu of the above-described connection between the separator slide 10 and the auxiliary actuating member 48, any other suitable connection may be employed which will have the desired capacity for yielding to permit a disconnection of the separator slide from the actuating bar for a portion of the stroke of said bar, in the event that a tack oflers that amount of resistance to the proper .movement of the separator that would tend to injure the separator or its actuating mechanism.

In order to provide a suitable warning in the event that the tacks should not be properly separated and delivered from any one '3 of the raceways, the following construction may be provided.

Projecting from the lower end of the plunger 26 isa pin 60 having a rounded end which is adapted to engage, when the plun- 40 ger 26 is depressed by the cam face 36, one

end of a lever 62 which is preferably pivoted at 64: to the bar 48, as shown in Fig. 4. The opposite end of the lever 62 carries a hammer 66, and a bell, or other audible signal 68, is suitably mounted on the frame of the machine in position to be engaged by the hannner 66 when the lever 62 is vibrated. The end of the'lever 62 which is engaged by the pin 60 is preferably corrugated, as

shown in Fig. 4, and the parts are so arranged that while the plunger 26 is depressed and the bar 48 overruns the separator slide 10 on each ineffective attempt to move the latter to its full extent, the contact between the pin and the corrugations on the lever 62 causes the lever 62 to be rapidly vibrated, which in turn effects a vibratory motion of the hammer against the bell and thus warns the operator that the 60 normal operation of the tack separating mechanism has been interrupted. Cessation of the warning bell notifies the operator that the obstruction has been cleared and the separator is working freely again. Ob-

'65 viously the lever 62 may be so arranged as .76 on the .machine frame.

to give a warning in other waysthan those herein described, if desired.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means to prevent damage to the auxiliary separator slide actuating member -LS, during thepositive return movement of the separator slide 10, in the event that the latter encounters sufficient resistance to its movement at this time to endanger the parts of the device. For this purpose, the bar as is formed in two parts, one of which is connected with the fork 50which receives motion from the crank pin 54, and the other of which parts contains the notch 46. These two parts are connected, as shown in Fig. 2, by a spring pressedabutment 69 which is mounted in a casing 70 projecting laterally from one of the parts and adapted to enter a recess in the other part, so that if that part of the bar 48 in which the notch a6 is formed should be arrestedupon its return or backward movement the abutment 69 could ride out of its recess, and hence that part of the bar as which is provided with the notch 46, together with the elements which are driven from'said bar, would not partake of the movement ofthe bar until such resistance was overcome.

A. convenient means for temporarily rendering the machine inoperative in the event of failure of the separating mechanism to feed tacks properly, so that operation of the tack driving mechanism will be automatically suspended when the delivery of tacks to the driving mechanism is suspended, will now be described with reference to the tack supplying mechanism of a pulling-over machine of the type described in the spec-ifica tion of U. S. Letters Patent No. 663,777, above referred to.

The plunger 26 is provided with a lateral projection, (see Fig. 3), which may be conveniently, and as shown is, an extension of the hereinbefore described T-shaped projection 38 of the plunger. This projection is arranged over the forward end of a lever 72, Figs. 3 and l which is fulcrumed at to a suitable rigid part of the frame of the machine, and the opposite end of this lever is connectedby a Bowden wire 7a to one end of a pawl 75, which is pivoted on a stud This pawl is adapted to be moved, through the wire 74, in such manner that its opposite end 78 will be swung into position for engaging with certain parts of the starting and stopping mechanism of the pulling-over machine, the parts with which this pawl is associated and with which it cooperates to effect a stopping of the machine being illustrated in Fig.1.

These parts of the pulling-over machine are the same as: those shown in Figs. 71, 72 and 73 of U. S; Letters'Patent No. 663,777, and V the reference characters herein employed.

are the same as those which are used in designating like parts on the drawings of said prior patent. In the machine of said patent, a vertically sliding plate X is opera-ted automatically at the end of the upper stretching part of the cycle of operation of the machine to depress a slide X which in turn pushes down a spring-pressed rod 98% for controlling the engagement of the parts of th main clutch of the machine, such clutch parts being permitted to separate for stopping the machine when said rod is moved downwardly. The rod X is connected to the treadle (not shown which must be released and depressed again by the operator before the next part of the cycle of operation of the machine, namely, the tack driving operation is initiated. Under normal conditions, the left hand end of a pivot latch X, carried on a slide X is maintained in position to abut against the right hand end of the slide X by a spring X and when the rod X is next raised by a depression of the treadle its beveled end X acts upon a cooperating bevel at the left hand side of the slide X and moves said slide toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, against the action of a spring X thus,

' through the pawl X pushing the slide X against the spring X from under the projection or sliding plate X. The slide X which is attached to the spring pressed rod 984, is then raised with said rodunder the force of the spring which acts upon the latter, thereby permitting the clutch parts to engage to start the machine. Referring now to the parts which are provided by the present invention for preventing operation of the machine when the tack separating mechanism fails to act, the elevation of the right hand end of the pawl 7 5 will cause a depression of its opposite end, when the lever 72 has been actuated through depression of the plunger 26, in the manner above eXplained. Such movement of the pawl 75 will serve to move the left hand end of the pawl X down, so that it cannot engage with the slide X when the slide X is moved to the left upon depression of the starting treadle of the machine, and in consequence the machine cannot be started on its tack-driving phase until the pawl 75 has been returned to normal position. The pawl 75 will remain in the abnormal position shown by dotted lines in F ig. 1 as long as the movements of the tack separator are arrested, but as soon as the obstructing tack has been removed and the separator is there by permitted to reciprocate, the plunger 26 will rise again under the influence of its spring 30 and the pawl 75 will thus be permitted to swing back into normal position with its left hand end clear of the pawl X so that the machine may resume its normal operation upon the next depression of the trcadlc. The pawl 75 may be caused to return to its normal position by a spring, or any other suitable means. As herein shown, the right hand end of this pawl is made heavier than its left hand end, so that when pressure upon the end of the lever 72 is relieved the pawl will automatically return to its inoperative position.

It will be observed that the depression of the plunger 26 and the consequent movement of the lever 7 2 and the pawl 7 5 to render the machine inoperative are caused to occur independently of the operation of the auxiliary separator actuating bar 48, so that the machine will be prevented from carrying out its tack driving operation regardless of whether or not the audible signal devices, and the devices to auxiliate the movement of the slide 10 to clear jammed tacks from the raceways are employed.

It will also be apparent that the function of'the paWl 7 5 is to interrupt a connection between two members whose connection is a necessary pre-requisite to the starting of the machine, and obviously the pawl or an equivalent controlling member may be arranged to operate at any desired point in the control system of the machine to which it is applied. By way of example this pawl has been shown and described in position between two members which are to be thus connected in the machine of the patent above referred to, but the invention is not limited to the use of such a device in the described, or in any other specific relation, as applicant believes himself to be the first to employ any means for controlling the operation of the machine which is actuated through mechanism whose operation is effected when the tack supplying means fails to operate, regardless of the details of such mechanism, or the particular machine in connection with which it is used.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for controlling the delivery of successive fastenings into position to be inserted,,of a warning device, and means constructed and arranged to actuate the warning device in consequence of an interruption in the normal operation of said first named means to deliver successive fastenings.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fastening delivery means, of a signal, and means in operative relation to said fastening delivery means and the signal constructed and arranged to be rendered operative to actuate the signal when any one of the normal operations of the fastening delivering means is suspended.

3. In a machine for inserting fastenings, the combination of means for controlling the delivery of successive fastenings into position to be inserted, a signal device, and means constructed and arranged to actuate the signal device in consequence of failure of said controlling means to perform any one of its normal fastening delivering operations.

4:. In a machine-for inserting fastenings, the combination of means for controlling the delivery'of successive fastenings into positioirto be inserted, a signal device, and connections between the fastening controlling means and the signal device for automatically effecting an operation of said signal device upon failure of the fastening controlling means to deliver successive fastenings into position to be inserted. I

5. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, means for'separating the endmost fastening in the raceway, a signal device, and connections be-' tween the separating means and the signal device for automatically rendering said sig-' nal device operative upon failure of the fastening separating means to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway.

6. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of means for controlling the delivery of successive fastenings into posi tion to be inserted, and means for giving a warning constructed and arranged to be rendered operative automatically in consequence of abnormal inoperativeness of the fastening controlling means at any time during its fastening delivering operation.

7. The combination with araceway, of a fastening separator, an actuator arranged for movement with said separator but adapted to yield relatively to said separator when movement of the latter is arrested by a misplaced fastening, andmea'ns arranged to be operated upon relative movement; of said parts for giving an audible warnlng.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, an actuator connected yieldingly with said separator, a bell, a lever having on one arm a striker for said bell and having its other arm provided with corrugations, a plunger having a projection to engage the corrugations, said plunger being operated to engage the corrugations upon relative movement of said separator and actuator, and means to move said plunger and lever relatively in the direction of the corrugations to actuate the striker.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fastening delivery means, of means located in operative relation to the fastening delivery means constructed and arrangedto auXiliate the fastening delivering means to dislodge a fastening whose movement has been accidentally arrested.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for controlling the deliver of fastenings, of an actuator yieldingly connected with said means, and a second actuator arranged to be connected with said means upon failure of the delivery of a fastening engaged by said means.

11. In a machine of the class described, the'combination with means for controlling the delivery of fastenings, of an actuator yieldingly connected therewith, a reciproeating actuator normally disconnected from said means but arranged to be connected therewith upon the failure of a fastening engaged by. said means to be delivered and to impart its reciprocations to said means to dislodge the fastening.

12. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of means for controlling the supply of fastenings, and means for imparting additional operative movements to the controlling means upon its failure to control the supply of fastenings.

13. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a fastening separator having a yielding operative movement in one direction to separate a fastening from other fastenings, and means constructed and arranged to become operative to impart additional operative movements to the separator upon its failure to separate a fastening which it engages.

14. In a machine of the class described, a raceway, means for separating the endmost fastening from the raceway and means for reciprocating said separating means upon failure of the separating means to separate a fastening in delivery position in the raceway.

15. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator arranged for operative movement in a clirection to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway, and means for auto1natically effecting a reciprocation of the separator when its operative separating movement is arrested.

16. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator arranged for movement in a direction to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway, and means for imparting additional reciprocations to the separator in fastening separating direction when its initial fastening separating movement is arrested.

17. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator having an initial movement in direction to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway,

and means for automatically imparting a plurality of reciprocations to the separator upon its failure to separate the fastening during its initial operative movement.

18. The combination with a raceway for fastenings, of a fastening separator, a main actuator yieldingly connected therewith, and an auxiliary actuator normally disconnected from said separator and adapted to be connected therewith upon failure of the endmost fastening to be'separated and to then impart positive movements to the separator to dislodge said fastenin 19. The combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, an actuator connected for movement with said separator but an ranged for movement relative thereto when the normal movement of said separator is arrested, an auxiliary actuator, and means rendered operative upon relative movement of the separator and first-named actuator to connect said separator and auxiliary actuator.

20. The combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, an actuator connected for movement with said separator, a constantly reciprocated auxiliary actuator normally disconnected from the separator and provided with a notch, and a plunger carried by said separator and adapted to enter said notch upon relative movement of the first-named actuator and the separator to connect the latter with the auxiliaryactuator.

21. The combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, a main actuator therefor, an auxiliary actuator having reciprocat ing movement, and means constructed and arranged to connect said separator and auxiliary actuator upon relative movement of the main actuator and separator, said means being yieldable to permit disconnection between said parts in one direction of movement when the separator encounters undue resistance to its movement in said direction, but arranged to move said separator posi tively in the opposite direction.

22. The combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, a main actuator yieldingly connected therewith and having a cam surface, a spring-pressed plunger, having a portion arranged for engagement with said surface upon relative movement of said separator and said main actuator, an auxiliary actuator provided with a notch, a connecting member carried by the separator and operated upon movement of said plunger to enter said notch, and means for positively reciprocating the auxiliary actuator.

23. The combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator. a main actuator yielding'ly connected therewith, an auxiliary actuator and means for positively reciprocating the same, and a locking device arranged to automatically connect said auxiliary actuator and separator upon relative movement of said main actuator and separator, said devicebeing constructed and arranged to so connect said parts that reciprocating movements will be transmitted from the auxiliary actuator to the separator positively in one direction and yieldingly in the other direction so that said connection will be temporarily broken in the event that the separator should encounter undue resistance to movement.

24. The combination with a raceway, of a track separator, a .main actuator connected for movements therewith when tacks are being properly separated, but arranged for movement relative to said separator when a tack becomes ammed, a two-part auxiliary actuator arranged to have one of its parts connected with the separator when relative .movement between the latter and said main actuator takes place, yielding means permitting disconnection of the parts of said auxiliary actuator when the separator encounters undue resistance to tack-dislodging movements, and means connected with the other part of said auxiliary actuator for imparting reciprocating movement thereto.

25. The combination with a raceway, of a tack separator, 51 main actuator therefor, a spring-pressed plunger carried by the separator and provided with a projection, a second spring-pressed plunger arranged for movement in a direction opposite to that of the first-named plunger and having a shoulder to engage said projection, an auxiliary actuator for imparting tack dislodging movements to the tack separator, and means operated upon relative movement of the main actuator and separator for moving the first-named plunger and thereby permitting movement of the second-named plunger for connecting said auxiliary actuator and separator.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with raceway, of a fastening separator, an actuator having yielding connection with said separator, and means for imparting positive fastening dislodging movements to the separator when its normal operative movements are arrested by an obstructing fastening.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a re ceway. of a fasten ing separator, an actuator having yielding connection with said separator, and means for imparting independent fastening-dislodging movements to the separator upon relative movement of said separator and actuator.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway, ofafastening separator, a main actuator having yielding connection with said separator, a positively actuated auxiliary actuator operated independently of the main actuator, and means to lock the auxiliary actuator to the separator when the main actuator and separator 'are caused to move relatively.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway, of means for controlling the passage of fastenings in said raceway, and means which is automati' cally rendered operative to auxiliate the fastening controlling means to dislodge a misplaced fastening when nrovement of said controlling means is arrested by said fastening.

30. In a machine of the class described constructed to perform a normal cycle of operations and then stop, the combination with means for delivering fastenings, of devices constructed and arranged to be actuated in consequence of an interruption in the normal operation of the fastening delivering means to prevent subsequent starting of the machine until such time as the fastening delivering means has been restored to its normal operation.

31. In a machine for delivering fastenings and driving the same into work, the com bination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, a main actuator yieldingly con nected with the separator, controlling devices to start the machine including two members to be operatively connected, and means operated upon relative movement of said main actuator and separator for interrupting the connection of said members and preventing the machine from operating.

82. A machine for feeding fastenings which are to be driven into work hav ing, in combination, a raceway, a separator, a main actuating member having connection with said separator by means arranged to yield when the separator is arrested, controlling means for the machine including two members which are connected when the machine is started, and means operated upon relative movement of said separator and actuating member to prevent said controlling members from being connected.

33. A machine for delivering fastenings into position to be driven into work having, in combination, a raceway, a fastening separator therefor, a main actuator connected with the separator by means arranged to yield when movement of the separator is arrested, a plunger actuated upon relative movement of said actuator and separator, a lever operated by movement of said plunger, a pawl having connection with said lever, and controlling means for the machine including two members which are operatively connected when the machine is started, said pawl being arranged when moved to interrupt the connection between said members and prevent the starting of the machine.

34. In a machine for supplying fastenings and driving them into stock, the combination with means to control the supply of fastenings, of means to control the starting of the machine arranged to be rendered inoperative upon failure of the operation of said first-named means.

35. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for controlling the supply of fastenings to the point where they are driven into work, of mechanism for starting the machine prior to each driving operation, and means rendered operative by a misplaced fasteningto prevent the operation of said mechanism.

36. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for controlling the supply of. individual fastenings to the point where they are driven into work, of mechanism for starting the machine, and means for preventing the operation of said mechanism upon failure of the delivery of a fastening to the driving point.

37. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination with means for controlling the supply of fastenings, of means forecontrolling the operation of the machine, and connections between said two named means constructed and arrangedto cause the machine controlling means to prevent further operation of the machine when the fastening controlling means is rendered inoperative to control the fastenings.

38. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of means for controlling the supply of fastenings, means for effecting an operation of the machine, and means for rendering the operating means inoperative upon failure of the operation of the fastening controlling means.

39. The combination with a raceway, of a fastening separator, a main actuator connected with said separator for movement therewith but arranged for movement rela tive thereto when the separator is arrested, means operated upon relative movement of said parts for giving an audible warning, and means for reciprocating the separator to dislodge the obstructing tack, said latter means being also operated upon relative movement of the separator and main ac tuator.

p 40. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of means for controlling the supply of fastenings, a warning device, mechanism for rendering the machine operative, and means for automatically actuating said warning device and simultaneously causing said mechanism to be rendered inoperative.

41. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator having operative movement in a direction to separate the endrnost fastening in the raceway, mechanism for effecting an operation of the machine, and means constructed and arranged to reciprocate the separator upon its failure to separate the fastening during its initial operative movement and for simultaneously rendering said mechanism inoperative.

42. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator hav ing operative movement in a direction to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway, mechanism for effecting an operation of the machine, and means for imparting additional reciprocations to said separator upon its failure to separate a fastening during its initial separating movement, said means rendering said machanism inoperative until a fastening has been separated by the separator.

43. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a separator having operative movement in a direction to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway, mechanism for effecting an operation of the machine, means for imparting addi tional reciprocations to said separator upon its failure to separate a fastening during its initial separating movement, and means for simultaneously rendering said mechanism inoperative until a fastening has been separated by said separator.

44. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a fastening separator arranged to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway, an actuator for said separator, having a yielding connection therewith, an auxiliary actuator operating independently of the main actuator, mechanism for efl'ecting an operation of the machine, means connecting the auxiliary actuator to the separator when the main actuator and separator are caused to move relatively, and means to render said mechanism inoperative during the operation of said separator by the auxiliary actuator.

45. In a fastening inserting machine, the combination of a raceway, a fastening separator arranged to separate the endmost fastening in the raceway, an actuator for said separator having a yielding connection therewith, an auxiliary actuator operating independently of the main actuator, mechanism for effecting an operation of the machine, means to connect the auxiliary actuator to the separator when the main actuator and separator are caused to move relatively, and means to render said mechanism inoperative until the normal operation of the separator by its main actuator has been resumed.

46. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fastening delivery means, and mechanism for imparting operative movement to said delivery means to cause said means to deliver a fastening, of means constructed and arranged for operation in consequence of failure of said delivery means to complete an operative movement to give a signal to the operator.

47. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway for fastenings, of a separator for effecting successive deliveries of fastenings from said raceway, means for operating said separator, and means constructed and arranged for operation in consequence of failure of said separator to complete any one of its operative movements to give a signal to the operator.

48. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway for fastenings, of a separator for effecting successive deliveries of fastenings from said raceway, means for operating said separator, and means constructed and arranged for operation in consequence of interruption of a normal operative movement of said separator to signal the operator and to continue to sig nal the operator as long as said interruption continues.

49. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with fastening delivery means and mechanism for imparting operative movement to said delivery means, of additional operating mechanism constructed and arranged to operate upon said delivery means to cause it to complete delivery of a fastening whose delivery movement has been accidentally arrested.

50. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway for fastenings and a separator, of'means for imparting normal movement to said separator, and additional means for imparting an abnormal movement to the separator in the event that its normal movement is accidentally arrested.

'51. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway forfastenings and a separator, of means for imparting normally a single reciprocatory movement to said separator, and means for reciprocating said separator a plurality of times in the event that its normal movement is accidentally arrested. 7

52. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway for fastenings, a separator and means for operating said separator, of additional separator operating means, and mechanism arranged to be controlled by said separator for rendering said additional means effective to operate the separator upon a failure of the separator to complete a normal movement.

53. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a raceway for fastenings, a separator and operating means for imparting a normal movement to said separator, of constantly driven supplemental operating means, be controlled by the separator to effect a connection between the separator and said supplemental operating means upon a failure of the separator to complete a normal movement.

54. In a machine of the class described, the combination with fastening delivery means, of mechanism having an automatically terminable cycle of movements for operating said delivery means, constantly driven supplemental operating mechanism,

and mechanism arranged to and means for rendering said supplemental mechanism effective to operate the delivery the combination with a raceway for fastenings, of a separator for effecting successive deliveries of fastenings from said raceway, mechanism having an automatically terminable cycle of movements for operating said separator, constantly driven supplemental operating means for said separator, and means for rendering said supplemental means effective to operate the separator in the event of failure of the separator to complete an operative movement.

56. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a. raceway for fastenings, of a separator for effecting successive deliveries of fastenings from said raceway, mechanism for imparting normally asingle reciprocation to said separator in each cycle of operations of the machine, constantly driven supplemental operating mechanism, and means for rendering said supplemental mechanism effective to impart a plurality of reciprocations to said separator in the event of failure of the separator to complete a normal movement.

57. In a machine of the class described constructed to perform a normal cycle of operations and then stop, the combination with starting means and fastening delivery means, of mechanism constructed and arranged to render said starting means ineffective to start the machine in consequence of failure of said delivery means to perform its normal function,

58. In a machine of the class described constructed to perform a normal cycle of operations and then stop, the combination with starting means, a raceway forfastenings and means for delivering fastenings from said raceway, of mechanism constructed and arranged to render said starting means ineffective to start the machine in the event of failure of said delivery means to effect the delivery of a fastening from said raceway.

59. In a machine of the class described constructed to perform a normal cycle of operations and then stop, the combination with starting means, a raceway for fastenings and a separator for delivering fastenings from said raceway, of mechanism c011- structed and arranged to render said starting means ineffective to start the machine in the event of failure of said separator to complete an operative movement.

60. In a machine of the class described constructed to perform a normal cycle of operations and then stop, the combination with starting means, a raceway for fast-enings and a separator for delivering fastenings from said raceway, of means for imparting a normal operative movement to said separator, supplemental operating means for the separator, mechanism for rendering said supplemental means effective to operate the separator in the event of failure of the separator to complete a normal movement, and mechanism for rendering said starting means ineffective to start the machine until said normal movement of the separator is completed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM THOMAS BUCKINGHAM ROBERTS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

